Setts



March 8, 1932. E. E. PAQUETTE 1,848,970

SPLICING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 6, 1929 .5 sheets-sheet 1 r Tizrl.

INVENTOR EXILIAS E. PAQUETTE y'zs 22ar2zeys H March 8, 1932. E. E. PAQUETTE 1,848,970

SPLICING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 6, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 zar- INVENTOR EXILIAS EPAQUETTEv yzls aZZaI-ne .9

- 4 MMM March 8, 1932. E. E. PAQUETTE SPLICING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb/6, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV ENTOR EX!LIAS E. E'AQUETTE izzs aiiormqys March 8, 1932. E. E. PAQUETTE 1,848,970

SPLICING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 6', 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 V INVENTOR EXILIAS E.PAQUETTE @zls aa z arzuys if; 2x6 M M W Patented Mali. 8, 1932 7 i EXILIAS E...PAQ UE'ITE, on WOODSTOCK, onTABIo, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO soo'rr &

wILLIAMs,INCORPORATED, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- smiths sr nicme a'rrecnnnnr FOR cmounaa KNITTING MACHINES Application filed February 6,1929. Serial No. 337,908.

a This invention relates to an attachment for circular knitting machines by which a spliced area of varying width may be formed in'suc- .oessive courses of a'fabric;

- One object of the invention is to provide an improved variable cam by means of which the extent through which a splicing yarn is added to a course 'may be varied; Another obj ect is to provide an improved cam mechanism and pattern control therefor by which the width of the spliced portion may b'evaried gradually through successive coursesand in which the cam mechanism may be restored automatically to a condition for creating another similar portion.

The novel features of the attachment'are in the construction of a variable cam mechanism which causes the raising and lowering ota splicing yarn finger during each spliced course and varies or holds constant through successive courses the. width of the spliced portion according to the dictates of the pattern mechanism by which the cam mechanism is controlled.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is hosiery knitting machine having the present attachment applied to it; 7

Figure 2 is a partial side view of the same machine.

Figure 3 is an end elevation ofthe cam drum forming part of the present attachment, the movable cam members of the drum being in their extended position forming full circumference high portlon.

Figure 4; is a side elevation of! the drum shown in Figure 3 with the parts in the same relative positions.

Figure 5 is a view, partly in section on the Y line 55 of Figure 3 showing the movable members of the cam drum in side by side p os'ition, and" a part of the drive mechanism therefor.

Figure 6 1s a view,in section on the line 6- '6'of Figure 5 and showing part of the drive mechanism for the movable'members of the cam drum.

Figure '7 is a side elevation ofjthe cam .7

drum as shown in Figures 3 and 4 but taken from the right hand side ofFigure3, showing the side opposite to that shown in Figure 4.

I Figure 8 is a diagram of a stocking which may be made on a'machine' having the pres: ent attachment applied to it. I V

Figure 9 is a' diagrammatic development of the cam showing the relatively movable members forming high and low portions, the members being shown in their extended positlongiving practically a full circumference.

' Figure 10 is a similar View showing the movable member-sin their side by side position' giving amaximuin low portion.

In the drawings and description the inven tion is shown and described as it is applied to the well known Scott & .Williamstyp'e of seamless hosiery machine with revolving needle cylinder but-it should "be understood Fimounted above the needle cylinder on'a pin 554: on the pivoted latch ring 550. This latch ring is pivoted on a bracket lOl on the bedp'late B, as usual. The yarn fingers. are adapted to be lifted'out of and loweredinto Operative position by thrust rods 460' 0011- trolled by the usual cam lugs 501 on themain pattern'drum120, which is. racked around at irregular intervals throughout the a making of'the stocking by any'suitable mechanism, such for instance as isshownin the patent to Robert W. Scott, Number 1,152,850 granted September 7,1915. The needle cylinderi-s adapted to reciprocate or rotate, the reciprocating ,mov'ementbeing obtained from a yarn fingers such as the splicingiyarn finger segment gear 75 driven by means of 'a train 60. and a pitm'an 7O. The variable cam horizon'talshaft; 12 which is mounted at the of gears'including a constantly revolving gear back or the knitting machine in spaced brack- V V ets 13 and 13 Theshaft-IQ is driven by the drum 10 is fixed on a.

engagement of. afsma ll pinion with the continuously revolving gear 60 which drives the segment 75 in the usual manner. The gear ratio is such that the drum turns once for each revolution of the needle cylinder. This cam drum causes the raising and lowering of the splicing yarn finger F by its action upon a lever which is attached at one end to the outer end of the yarn finger i3 and at its lower end to a reverse motion lever 17 pivoted at 16 on the shaft bracket 18 so thatv its free end may rest on the cam drum 10. The free end of the lever 1? is extended laterally as at 19 to give a wide bearing surface over the drum.

The yarn finger F being in its yarn feeding position, that is, resting on the throat plate 559, by reason of the main pattern drums having been turned until there is no cam lug under the thrust rod 460. the extent of each course through which the yarn finger is in that position is determined by the cam drum 10. Thus the main pattern drum, which controls various operations of the machine in a predetermined relation, determines the period in which the yarn finger may be lowered to feeding position; while the rotary cam drum determines the extent of a course through which the splicin yarn is fed thereto during that period.

The variable cam drum 10 (see Figures 3-7) is made up principally of a cylindrical body 20, two cam segments 21 and 22 on its periphery forming together a cam with relatively variable high and low portions, and a mechanism for moving these segments simultaneously in opposite directions about the axis of the drum and for reversing their movements. I

Each cam segment is formed of two members an outer cam piece, e. g. 21", which extends about half way around the drum, and an inner ring e. g. 21 which surrounds the cylindrical body 20. The two inner rings 21 and 22 are spaced axially on the cylinder 20 and each is toothed on its inward face over about half of its circumference to form a rack. The cam pieces 21 and 22 are wider than the rin s and are so secured to the rings by screws 23 that their inward faces have but a very slight clearance. Retaining collars 2% are removably secured to the cylinder 20 by set screws 25 and serve to hold the cam segments from axial movement on the drum.

The cam segments 21, 22 are moved simultaneously in opposite directions about the axis of the drum by a small pinion 26 on the outer end of a spindle 27 which is so mounted on a radial axis that it places the pinion between the two rings 21 and 22 and in engagement with the rack teeth of both.- The lower end of the spindle 27 rests on a thin hard metal piece 28 at the bottom of asmall radial bore 29. A larger radial bore 30 intersects a bore 31 at right angles thereto extending from one end of the cylinder 20 parassen allel to the axis but eccentric to it. The intersection of the two provides a chamber for a worm 32 and wheel 33. The wheel is secured to the radial spindle 27 while the worm is mounted to turn with a short shaft 3% extending through the bore 31 which is parallel to the drum axis. The spindle 27 is supported, above the wheel 33, by an insert which .rests in a counter-bore 36' of larger diameter than the bore 30 in which the wheel turns. Washers 3"? are placed on either side of the wheel between it and the insert on the one side and the bottom of the bore 30 on the other side.

The worm shaft 3% extends beyond the end wall of the cylinder 20 to receive its driving parts. A collar 38 is held on the shaft by a set screw 39 and thus provides an abutment against which there rests a ratchet wheel 40. G11 the other or outer side of the ratchet is a leather disc 41 and beyond that a collar 42 and the end portion of a spring presser 43, all held in place by the head of a screw that threads into an axial bore in the outer end of the worm shaft. The spring presser 43 is a piece of leaf spring fixed atone end on a post rigid with the drum and slotted at its other end to straddle the screw is and to engage the collar 4-2. The ratchet, the leather disc and the collar are not secured to the shaft positively but normally they turn with it by reason of being pressed against the inner collar 38 which is fixed to the shaft. The worm shaft 34 is held from endwise movement by a small screw l5 which extends from the outside of the cylinder 20 to engage a groove 4E6 in the shaft.

Theratchet maybe turned in either direction and for this purpose two pawls are provided, one for turning the ratchet in one direction and the other for turning it in the opposite direction. One pawl is formed somewhat as a toggle having two parts hinged to gether, as at l? in Figures 3 and a. One part 48 of this pawl is pivoted, at its end away from the joint, on a fixed pin 49 extending from the end of the cylinder at a point remote from the axis thereof. The free end of the other part lies near the ratchet wheel being drawn inward against a fixed guide pin 50 by a spring ol which is connected between the two parts of the pawl across the joint 4-7. A. spring 52 held at one end to the cylinder 20 and at the other to a projection of the pivoted part l8 beyond the pivot ll), tends to swing the pawl away from the ratchet wheel.

The other pawl similarlyv is .made up of two parts, one of which is pivoted. This latter part is a lever pivoted at a central point on a pin 53 fixed to the end of the cylinder in such a way that one arm 54 of the lever extends out from the drum substantially radially while the other arm 55 lies toward the drum axis. These two arms are spaced axially so that the outward one 54 lies in a plane spaced from the plane of the hinge 4715mm other pawl. The inward arm 55 is drawn to ward a stoppin56 by a spring '57 and carries a pivot pin 58 for the member 59 which en gages the ratchet; This ratchet engaging member 59 is drawn by a springfil towards a guide pin 62 extending endwise fromthe' cylinder. a r I Y The c-ammechanism 'just'd'escribed pro vides 'a circular-cam ha ving members which form a' high portion'consisting of the cam pieces'21 and22 and a low portion consistingjof that much ofthe exposed portions of the rings "21 and 22 which lies between the remote ends ofthe cam pieces. The ratio between the high and low portions is varied by turning the pinion 25 and thereby causing the cam pieces to move in opposite directions. The llowportion may be reduced to zero by moving'the cam piecesuntil theyare onoppo'site sides of the cylinder and form a continuous circumterential'high' portion. -When moved to positions such that the two cam 25 pieces l'ie side by side with'their ends in regis t'e'r one with the other, the maximum" low space "is created. "If the cam pieces areeX- actly half of the circumference, this maximum low space is ahalf circumferencel It is desirablehowever to make the. cam pieces less than a "half circumference 'in length,

thereby enabling the provision-of alowspace longer than a half? circumference. /Vhen such the case, a fixed cam piece-is provided pieces of thin metal secured by screws to the V r on thecyl-i-nder 20 in aipositiorr alongside of the cam segments where 1t can brldge the space between theerids of the cam pieces 1 when they are'moved from their side by side positions to their ext-remepositions. In

6 this manner a continuous full-circumference high cam port on may-be'obtalnedln one settingand low portion longer than a lla'lfcircu'mference may be 'had by anothersettin'g;

To "restrain" the cam pieces'i from "movement beyond the point at which they give the desired maximum high portion when they are moved thereto from their side side position, and beyond the side by' side position on their return thereto under reverse move ment, stops are provided. These consists 'ot drumcthe screws extending through elon gated holes inthe stoppieces sothat thestops maybe adjusted circumferentially on 'the druin'i Onestop 65 is secured to t-heretainring 24 adjacentjthe cam segment21 and has'an ofiset'portion 66'ly1ng over the ring 21" in the; path of the cam piece21 and in such: a position that" it engages the trailing end of the'latter-when' the cam segments are moved outwardly from their side byside po sitionf The trailing end'of the cam piece 21 may be 'cut away over, part of its width so that the'toe oi the follower '17'may dropdirectly onto thedrum without striking" the stop 66.

The position (see :F 9) determined this stop givesthe'maximum high portion and if the stop is properly set it; gives a full circum-' ieren'c'e high portion, theiixed piece bridging the gap between the adjacent ends of the campieces 2l 'and22 when such a bridge piece is provided In" this condition 'of the cam drum, no splicing yarn fed to the needles.

' Y The other'stop 67 is secured to the cylinder 20 .in the space between the cam rings 21 and 22". It has an upturned portion 68in the pathoi pin 69 carried on the side face of the ring 21 7 The stop is set so that the pin strikes it when the cam pieces 21 and 22 are in their side by'side position providing the maximum low space. This position'is the one illustrated in Figure 10.

When further movement of the cam seg ments isprevented by'the stops, the driving mechanismtheretore' may continue to oper-. ate but it is rendered-ineffective by the slip clutches 38,40,41which come'into playunder such conditions. Y

The manner in which the cam segments are moved outward from and back to their side by side position by the ratchetand its actuatinghpawls will be understood by considering the eiiect ofasuccession of'movements of the pivotedinember i-d of one pawl and then of the pivoted member 54-, 55 of the other pawl. "As themelnber as is moved inwardly aboutYi-ts pivot 49' by a striker mechanism to be described,the pawhguided by the pin 50, engages the ratchet and turns it.. The spring 52 returnsithe pawt to its normal position.

The turning of the ratchet normally causes the worm shaft toturnibecausethe' friction connection between the ratchet and the inner collarQ38 *under' pressure "of; the I spring 43 and the screw 44- maihtziins the driving relation. 1 Thus through the worm 32 and fcourse, of the. opposite movementvofthe' cam segments. 7 t

'fhllovement of the :other pawl, caused by r'oclnng the arm'54t1n a way whlch is yet to be described, causes the ratchet 40 to turn in the opposite" direction since the pawl member 59 moves against the ratchet teeth in the opposite 'di'rectionirom that of the other pawl.

Theresult is are'verseanovement of the cam V v segments or am'ove'ment' toward their side by side or registering posltlon.

a The stops'65 an'd '67 limit the permissive movements of the cam segments and prevent further relative movement between them when they have established a predetermined ratio between the high and low portions regardless of whether or not the ratchet condriving member, the worm shaft 34, affording a capability of slip. When movement of the cam segments is prevented, the ratchet slips on the collar 38 and turns ineffectively.

A mechanism now to be described, operated from the main pattern drum 120, controls the cam mechanism described above by selecting the pawl to be actuated and by determining the duration of the operative and the inoperative period of each pawl and the relation of these periods to the other operations of the machine in knitting the stocking. The selection of the pawl to be operative determines the direction of drive of the reversible mechanism described above for effecting relative movement between the members on the cam drum which form the high and low portions.

It will be recalled from the preceding description that the hinge 47 and pivoted member 48 of one pawl turn in aplane parallel to but spaced from the plane in which the pivoted arm 54 turns, both being secured to the end of the cam drum 10. This permits selec tive actuation of them by moving a striker into their respective planes in position to engagethem as they turn. This striker is a small lug 71 mounted fixedly on a horizontal rod 72 below and inside of the drum shaft 12. The striker rod is supported in the bracket 18 at one end and at the other end in a bushing 7 3 on the main frame of the machine and it is movable horizontally in these supports. A spring 74 tends to move the rod to the right in Figure 1. This horizontal movement enables the striker 71 to be put in any desired one of its three selective positions, viz, (1) clear of the pawls, (2) in the path of the hinge 47 and the pawl member 48, (3) in the path of the pivoted pawl member 54. i

The striker rod 71 is moved from one selective position to another by an arrangement of levers between the rod and a set of cam lugs on the main pattern drum. The rock lever 76 is pivoted at 77 on aninturned eX- tension of the bracket 18 which supports the drum shaft 12 and thestriker rod 72. Its lower end carries a pin 78 which extendsinto the path of a circumferential series of cam lugs on the main pattern drum 12. At the upper end, the rock lever is attached to a set of levers one of which 79 is pivoted on the bracket 18 to rock at right angles to the rock lever 7 6 and supports two depending members, one secured to the rock lever 76 and the other 80 resting in a slot in the end of the striker rod, thus constituting a means for transferring the movement of the rock lever, as caused by the cam lugs, into a horizontal movement of the striker rod against the effort of the spring 74.

When the pin 78 rides up on a high lug 81 on the pattern drum120, the striker is moved furthest to the left, as the machine is viewed in Figure 1, to lie in the path of the. pawl 47, 48. In this position the striker engages the pawl 47 once on each revolution of the cam drum 10 and thereby causes the cam segments to move out from their side by side position and to decrease the splicedextent of the courses. \Vhen a low cam lug 82 lifts the pin 78, the striker is brought into the path of the pawl arm 54 (as shown by the dotted outline in Figure 4) and the cam'segments are moved toward their side by side position, thus increasing the length of the low space formed by the'cams 21, 22 and increasing the width of the spliced area through successive courses.

When the pin 78 rests on the patterndrum itself, the spring 74 puts the striker clear of the pawls and the ratio between the low and 'high portions of the cam 21, 22 is unchanged through successive courses.

The high and low cam lugs 81 and 82 are positioned on the main pattern drum 120, as shown in Figure 1, in such relation to the cam lug 501 which controls the yarn finger F through the thrust rod 460, that when the yarn finger is dropped into feeding position by the rods riding off its lug 501, the low cam lug 82 comes under and lifts the pin 78 and therefore, through the 'lever arrangement described, puts the pawl actuator or striker 71 in the path of the arm 54 where it will cause the pawl member 59 to drive the ratchet. Such drive, as explained above, moves the camsegments from their outermost position toward their side by side position resulting in a gradual widening of the spliced area 83 through the courses above the heel. It may be assumed for the present that prior to this movement the cam segments were in position forming a full circumference high cam portion.

While the heel pocket 84 is being knit the cam,501 puts the yarn finger out of feeding position. Thereafter when it is returned to permit splicing of the sole 85 of the foot, the ratio between the high and low portions is left unchanged. This may be done either by having the low lug 82 of such length that it drops the pin 78 before reciprocatory knitting is ended or by merely setting the stop 68 at a point to engage the pin 69 on the camring 21? when the relatively movable members have established the proper ratio of high and low portions forthe last spliced course above the heel. Then the pawl 54 may continue to be operated without affecting the ratio and the low lug 82 may end at any convenient point to drop: the pin 7 81 on a subsequent move-,

1 ment of the drum.

' of the pattern drum rather than requiring new movementsv with the possibility of hav-I 1 The lug8 1 maybe at any'point on the pattern drum to 1 take. advantage of some above. 1

It will be appreciated that'due tothe many demands put upon the-main patterndrum120 in the course ot the knittting of onejarticle, and due to the limitations thereby put on the number ot moves it can make, it is not an easy matter'to add anewseries oflugs to control a new attachment in proper relation to-uthe other operations; The present arrangement avoids much of this. difiiculty by the provi-' sion of the slip clutch. in the mechanism'which varies'the cam ratios It is notnecessary'to I have'a. movement ofthe pattern drum at the endfof the tapered high splice nor is itnecessary to provide a special movement toeflect a reversal of the drive mechanism in the cam.

To a large extent thenthis attachment makes it posm'ble to utilize the existing movements ing to reset all of the lugs on the pattern drum to accommodate them. g r

7 .It is important to note also that the reverse movement of the camsegments restoring the drum to the proper condition for starting a new tapered splice isgradual, extending over several courses, rather than sudden as in known constructions. This'i's possible because of the single drive mechanism which is re-.. versible. F or that reason, it is not necessary to provideanycomplex additional mecha nism to efiect the return movement. This cam with its reversible mechanism, as distin-: guished from cams in which segments move always inone direction around the drum,

makes. practicable thefuse of. stops limiting the. permissivemovement of the} members forming theh igh andlow cam portions.

' The cam mechanismrmay becontrolledin otherways than-the one illustrated andjit may.

7 be varied in its details; I therefore wish'to includewithin the scope of'the protection give me all such constructions as come within the fair range ofthe following claims.. Iclaim.- r V 1 1. In a circular knitting machine having needles and yarn fingers including a splicing yarn finger, the. combination of a rotary cam drum having high and' low portions foractuating' the splicing yarn finger and mechanism for increasing or decreasing theratio between said portions, together wlth means for controlling said mechanism selectively to vary saidratio in either direction or -'to m.a-intain it constant-through successive courses in predetermined relatlon to the operations of the machlne. l

.1 2. In a circular hosiery knitting machine havingneedles, yarnfin'gers including a splicing yarn finger, means forcaus'ing said machineto reciprocate during part of an operative cycle to formaheel, and a pattern drum for controlling the splicing-yarn finger so that it may be in feeding position for a number of courses above the heel and in the foot, the combination'ot a rotary cam drum having high and low portions for determining the feeding and idle periods of the splicing yarn finger in said courses and mechanism for in creasing or decreasing the'ratio between said portions, togetherwithmeans controlled by said patterndrum for causing said mechanism to vary said ratio to give a tapered splice abovethe heel, to maintain the width of the splice constant in the foot courses and to vary said ratio in the. opposite direction while unspliccd part is being. knit.

yarn finger; a rotary cam'fordetermining the extent of a course through which splicing yarnis fedithereto, said cam comprising a drum withsmembers thereon forminghigh 3. In a circularknittingmachine having 9.5 4 needles and'yarn fingers including a splicing and low portions, and a reversible drive mech- 'anism' for effecting relativemovementrbetween isaidinembers to increase and'to. decrease theratio between said portions.

4. In aicircular knitting ma'chine having needles and yarn fingers includinga splicing yarn finger, a rotarycam for determining the extent of a course through whichrsplicing yarn. is fed thereto, 'said' cam' comprising a drum with members-thereon forming high and lowportions, and means foreftecting gradual relative movement between said members said means causing said members to reverse their directions.o f'movement to in portions;

-5. a circular v I v needlcsand yarn fingers including asplicing;

yar'n' fingen a', rotarycam for determining-the ext-ent ofa course through which splicing 'yarn'is .fed thereto, sa d cam comprlsmg'a drunij with members thereon forming high;

" and low. portions, afratchet operated mecha=f nismior efieoting relative movement between;

said: members, and separate pawls; one for.

driving the ratchet inonedirection and an 1 other *for driving inflthe reverse dlrectioni 6;InYa:'circularknitting machine having needics andyarn-fingers includlng a splicingyarn 1 fingeig. a: rotary 1 cam: vfor; determining i li o knitting .machine having crease and to decrease the ratio between said the extent of a course through which splicing yarn is fed thereto, said cam comprising a drum with members thereon forming high and low portions, a ratchet operated mechanism for efiecting relative movement between said members and means for driving the mechanism in opposite directions.

7. In a circular knitting machine having needles and yarn fingers including a splicing yarn finger, a rotary cam for determining the extent of a course through which splicing yarn is fed thereto, said cam comprising a drum with members thereon forming high and low portions, a reversible drive mechanism for effecting relative movement between said members to increase and to decrease the ratio between said portions, and pattern controlled means for determining the direction of drive of said reversible mechanism.

8. In a circular knitting machine having needles and yarn fingers including a splicing yarn finger, a rotary cam for determining the extent of a course through which splicing yarn is fed thereto, said cam comprising a drum with members thereon forming high and low portions, a reversible drive mechanism for eliecting relative movement between said cam members to increase and to decrease the ratio between said portions, and pattern controlled means for determining the direction of drive of said reversible mechanism and its operative and inoperative periods.

9. In a circular knitting machine having needles and yarn fingers including a splicing yarn finger, a rotary cam for determining the extent of a course through which splicing yarn is fed thereto, said cam comprising a drum with members thereon forming high and low portions, a drive mechanism for efiecting relative movement between said members to vary the ratio between said portions, said mechanism including a means for normally transmitting the driving effort to said. cam segments and "for reversing the directions of movement of said cam segments but adapted to end the driving relation when said segments establish a predetermined ratio between said portions. 7

10. In a circular knitting machine having needles and yarn fingers including a splicing yarn finger, a rotary cam for determining the extent of acourse through which splicing yarn is fed thereto, said cam comprising a drum with members thereon forming high and low portions, a drive mechanism for effecting relative movement between saidmembers to increase and to decrease the ratio between said portions, said mechanism including a means for normally transmitting the driving efiort to said cam segments and for reversing the directions of movement of said cam segments but adapted to end the driving relation-when said segments establish a predetermined ratio between said portions.

. 11. Ina circular knitting machine having needles and yarn fingers including a splicing yarn finger, a rotary cam for determining the extent of a course through which splicing yarn is fed thereto, said cam comprising a drum with members thereon forming high and low portions, a drive mechanism for effecting relative movement between said members to vary the ratio between said portions, stops limiting the permissive extent of such movement and means for ending the driving relation between said mechanism and said members when the limit of permissive movement is reached. I

12. In a circular knitting machine having needles and yarn fingers including a splicing yarn finger, a rotary cam for determining the extent of a course through which. splicing 8 yarn is fed thereto, said cam comprising a drum with members thereon forming high and low portions, a drive mechanism for effecting relative movement between said members to vary the ratio between said portions, said mechanism including driving and driven members in'i-rictional engagement but capable "of slip when such movement is prevented, and means for preventing further relative movement between said members when they establish a predetermined ratio between said portions.

13. In a circular knitting machine having needles and yarn fingers including a splicing yarn finger, a'rotary camfor determining the 100 extent of a course through which splicing yarn is fed thereto, said cam comprising a drum with membersthereon forming high and low portions, a drive mechanism for etfecting relative movement between said members to vary the ratio between said portions, said mechanism including a slip clutch, and means for preventing further relative movement between the said members when they establish a predetermined ratio between said cam portions.

14. In a circular knitting machine having needles and yarn fingers including a splicing yarn finger, a rotary cam for determining the extent of a course through which splicing yarn is fed thereto, said cam comprising adrum with movable members thereon forming high and low portions, a drive mec anism for effecting relative movement between said members to vary the ratio between said portions, separate means for actuating said drive mechanism in opposite directions and pattern controlled means for selectively rendering said actuating meansoperative.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EXILIAS E. PAQUETTE. 

